Seanad debates

Thursday, 26 March 2015

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Committee Stage

 

10:30 am

Photo of Fidelma Healy EamesFidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Mullen's amendment. If the Minister enforces the wording proposed in the Bill, the child is at a loss. Can the Minister give us some examples of situations where the Minister for Health might agree with the donor not to reveal the information? I can only think of extreme situations, but I would like to hear what the Minister has to say on this. Clearly, her first principles relate to informed consent, revelation of information and being against anonymity.Here, the Minister is saying, "if satisfied that sufficient reasons exist to withhold the information concerned from the donor-conceived child, shall refuse the request under subsection (1) and notify the donor-conceived child of the refusal and, in doing so, may inform him or her of the content of the representations of the relevant donor under subsection (2),". Here is a time when the State is coming down on the side of the donor against the child. I ask the Minister give me examples.

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